Sunday, June 28, 2009

I tried to watch the BET Awards tonight, but after seeing T-Pain's dumb ass go on stage with what was literally a "big ass chain" (yes, a big ass chain that said "big ass chain" on it) I just couldn't watch anymore. I decided to come and do some work and blog, instead. I will let you all tell me about it. That is, of course, if you are still watching and didn't decide to turn it off like moi.

Anyway, tonight I want to talk about a fellow member of the Pennsylvania Bar, Christine Flowers, who wrote an article comparing our rights to vote in this country with what has been happening in Iran. She started off alright when she said the following:

'WHERE is my vote?" screamed the protesters in the streets of Tehran. Bloodied opponents of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made their disenfranchisement public and demanded that the world pay attention. And we did, using the magic of the Internet, logging on to Twitter and YouTube, and sharing, in real time, the agony of the Iranian people. We watched, horrified, as one young woman was murdered by government thugs and we witnessed the beatings of countless others.

Votes are precious currency. We pay for democracy with each ballot, each inked finger, each raised hand. The right to self-government isn't free - it's purchased from citizens at a sometimes monumental price. And when those votes are stolen in any way, tyranny takes root. That appears to be what happened in Iran. And it's also what happened in this country at times in our history when huge swaths of our citizens were denied a voice in governance.

It was the days of Jim Crow and gerrymandering, when voting districts in the South were structured so that the black vote was watered down or, in the worst cases, eliminated altogether. A time when men in white sheets did their dirty deeds with ropes and crosses at midnight.

Eventually, we found a way to dismantle the hateful oligarchy of the racists. It was called the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and gave the federal government unprecedented power to oversee local elections to ensure that every citizen of the Deep South, especially those once counted as three-fifths of humanity, could cast their ballots.

It worked. And it deserves to be recognized as one of the pillars of evolving social justice, along with the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment, the Civil Rights Act and Brown v. Board of Education. But this doesn't mean that, 40-plus years after the fact, it can't be revisited to see if perhaps some of its provisions are dated and no longer relevant. Of course, don't tell that to the New York Times editorial board, the American Civil Liberties Union and many other groups for whom the mere notion that you could even think of revisiting the VRA is heretical.

And it's exactly why they trembled when the Supreme Court agreed to hear a challenge to Section 5 of the act, thinking that the conservative justices would be able to overturn four decades of progress with a stroke of their mean-spirited pens.

Surprise! It didn't happen."

Okay Christine, so it didn't happen, (no thanks to Clarence) but you shouldn't be gloating because the fact that you folks on the right think that Section 5 of the act should even be revisited at this particular time in our history, just goes to show how out of touch you really are.

Anyway, I said Christine's article started off okay, but then it ended like this:

"...Back in 1967, my father spent a summer in Mississippi registering black candidates for office and black citizens for the vote.

He came back with stories of little children using the "n-word" and "Yankee lawyers" dodging spit - and worse. He wrote in his diary that "It made me feel very ill to know that there were people in America who differed very little in my judgment from those who manned Auschwitz in 1944."

And that's why, 40 years ago, that law was a godsend. But as Chief Justice Roberts noted in his majority opinion, today "minority candidates hold office at unprecedented levels." He also observed that when Congress renewed the act in 2006, it relied on data more than three decades old. Talk about back to the future.

You'd think we could sensibly judge for ourselves whether in 2009, with a black president sitting in the Oval Office after a serene and glitch-free election - and a black woman being one of the richest and most influential figures in the country - the Voting Rights Act could withstand a sensible critique - especially in utility-district voting in Texas.YOU'D also think that, given what's happening in Iran, we could look at ourselves honestly and say, our votes, once threatened, are now safe. At the very least, if we want to maintain the fiction that black voters are still denied their full rights at the ballot box, we could also acknowledge that white voters who are intimidated by Black Panther thugs at Philadelphia polling places should get the same federal protection.

But when the Justice Department shelves the prosecution of those thugs, you have your answer. I guess the times are indeed a-changin' - in some unexpectedly interesting ways."

"Our votes...are now safe"? Christine, of course, makes the classic mistake that so many whites make when the view the achievement of black folks as a collective: They cherry pick the few of us who have achieved to extraordinary levels in this country, in spite of racism.

And finally, she ends her article by telling a flat out lie. Those "Black Panther thugs" intimidated no one, and they were at very few polling places on election day in November of 2008 here in Philadelphia.

So what started out as a decent article which seemed like, for once, the issue of race was going to be given fair treatment by a wingnut, pretty much turned out how I suspected it would: Wrong.

I am sorry you didn't surprise me, Christine. But I am sure you are not.

98 comments:

Yet again, another dumbass white person (and liberals do this too) who either inadvertently or by design equate "hate" and violence with racism, and nothing more. Racism's algebra includes elements of power and history or the equation simply doesnt add up. The "tell" here is that you could just feel Roberts, Alito et al wanting to scrap the whole VRA including Section 5, but not even they were crazy or stupid enough to say now's the time. Guess who was? Yep. hahaha

" As the resident Scientist here on this blog, allow me to school those of you who obviously never had a biology class, LOL. First, it's entirely possible that MJ's kids are his. Why? Because the genetic admixture of Blacks in America, primarily as a result of slavery, allows us to have children that can be born with eyes the color of the sky to the color of soot. "

Uhhhhhhh, you may have taken a biology class, but did you earn a PASSING grade? The one-gene, one-trait theory of inheritance has been proven to be foolishly flawed, and the by product of sluggish scholarship.

Don't agree. Well, I'll use your own understanding of biology to prove you wrong.

Let's use your oversimplified one-gene, one-trait ideology. Take a genetic punnit square (assuming that you remember what this is). Now let's cross breed a Black person (who carries the recessive gene that causes one to have blue-eyes), and a blue-eyed White person, who carries a pair of recessive genes giving rise to blue eyes.

With successive cross breeding, the one-gene, one-trait mentality would predict that MANY black people would have blue eyes. In your own words, you stated that "something about us all being mulattoes...yawn..never heard bout that." Hovever, the fact that interracial couples NEVER have children with blue eyes disproves the one-gene, one trait theory, which would be necessary for your opinion about Michael Jackson's children to be true.

Listen carefully...more carefully than you did in the remedial biology class that you bragged about. THE ONLY BLACK CHILDREN (AND I'VE SEEN PICTURES OF THEM) WHO HAVE BLUE EYES ARE CHILDREN WITH BIRTH DEFECTS. A blue-eyed Black child has defects that will, in most cases, render them blind at a very early age.

I could go much deeper into this subject, but my point isn't really a scientific one. The point is this: don't try to be a big shot by "flaunting" your so-called expertise around people who may be less informed about your area of expertise. This says very little about the quality of your character. Additionally, you'll always run the risk of running into someone (hint, hint), a REAL scientist or medical expert who won't hesitate to expose your ignorance, and embarrass you accordingly.

Well, to add insult to the comments made by the phony "scientist", the multi-factorial nature of genetics is what gives rise to GREEN eyes in some interracial children, but NEVER blue eyes.

Additionally, did it ever dawn on you that white people with black, brown, and green eyes are carriers of the genes of BLACK ancestors? Are you really silly enough to think that only African Americans have a plethora of genes from a diverse (yet tragic) ancestry? How can EVERYONE be a child of Africa, yet only some of us have Black genes.

Don't go to medical school (as you suggested you may try). SAVE YOUR MONEY. I'M REALLY NOT TRYING TO BE CRUEL, BUT YOU'D NEVER MAKE IT THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL. The reasoning you shared with everyone is proof of this.

Non-whites...Mexicans to Philipinos, Black Africans to Arabs, ALL shades of Asian, etc, etc, etc, have BLACK EYES. This is indicative of dark eyes being an extremely dominant trait. And since so many differing ethnic groups, even whites have these dominant traits, this explains, once again, why there aren't blue-eyed Black chidren running all over the place, regardless of cross breeding with white people with blue eyes.

ONCE AGAIN, AND I REALLY MEANT WHAT I SAID ABOUT MEDICAL SCHOOL, SAVE YOUR MONEY! IF YOU REALLY ARE WORKING UNDER A Ph.D, and STILL have this outdated understanding of genetics, you'll be one of those people who ruin their lives with 200,000 to 300,000 dollars worth of debt, and no medical degree to bail you out.

And once more, STOP COMING TO THESE SITE TRYING TO IMPRESS PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT BE SCIENTISTS. Do you think there's only one type of intelligence. A person who sucks at science, but can make a guitar or piano sing is your equal, whether you want to believe it or not.

I'm tired of a lot of white folks who have just worked my last good nerve. Yes, there is no discrimination anymore. It's all good. The voter intimidation reported in Florida in 2000 and in Ohio in 2004 were a fantasies we invented in our wooly heads.

I have two cousins with blue eyes. Both had two black parents, they aren't blind and don't even wear glasses.

Related to the on and off topics, this is why I love the internet. People come here and say any old dumb assed thing and other people believe it.

I was wondering if you were still here. I didnt see you posting anything. You know, tomorrow the Supreme Court is supposed to be hearing that case on reverse discrimination. I wonder how that is going to turn out. We can just about know Clarence Thomas vote will be.

I noticed that our so-called MSM has not done a follow up on the "Panthers" that stood outside that center.Some reports said that they were really McCain supporters.I had to laugh when they stood outside that center in front of a white man AND THEY WEREN'T SHOT !

Then let's not forget Ohio where a NAACP "official" in Youngstown hired a "crackhead" ( the medias name for him not me) that registered Porky Pig and Daffy Duck in 2004.They used this excuse to send "challengers" to Cleveland.Blackwell should be thrown into Supermax for that stunt. Youngstown is in another county.Youngstown closer to you than it is to Cleveland and you know I'm not joking.

What I get tired of hearing is them referring to the New Black Panthers as the Black Panthers. They are both two entirely different organizations. The Black Panthers were the original Black Panthers and their organization was based on an entirely different concept.

I knew some of them personally. Bobby Hutton the youngest one to be murdered by the police, brother was a very good friend of mine. The Black Panthers were college students and they tutored children, helped start a free clinic, started the lunch and breakfast programs and did a whole lot for the black community.

Granny you know that these "fake Panthers" were plants.How is that helping "the cause" standing at a black polling location.Of course FOX said what if there were Klansmen standing at a voting location.Those "Panthers" should of had "FOX" printed on back of their khakis.

I had the privilege and the honor of working on the Obama voter protection squad in Columbus, Ohio election day 2008 and while all was quiet at my assigned polling place many of my co-workers that day could tell you stories that, sadly, would not surprise most of the readers of this blog.

I'm not sure what America Christine if referring to when she states our votes are "safe", but it ain't the same one the rest of us are living in. It took an army of over 4000 attorneys in Ohio and 5000 attorneys in Florida to assure the voter abuses of 2000 and 2004 weren't repeated in full - that hardly constitutes "safe".

Hey ac remember that fool that said he was registered 72 times to vote. (How many virgins was promised again). Then Bill Sammon said he knew of voter fraud in Cuyahoga County. Of course a reporter from FOX knows about voter fraud, they did it! The FBI should interview him.

Field, I don't know what makes me sicker: the jigging witnessed on the BET Awards, or Christine's ignorance. Did she actually say, " It was the days of Jim Crow and gerrymandering, when voting districts in the South were structured so that the black vote was watered down or, in the worst cases, eliminated altogether. A time when men in white sheets did their dirty deeds with ropes and crosses at midnight."

@ west cost story. "Story". How appropriate a pin-name. You claimed that you " have two cousins with blue eyes. Both had two black parents, they aren't blind and don't even wear glasses. " Listen, you need to be careful about who you tell your lies. I don't believe you for a minute, but others who read your lies just may. So I must briefly address what you said.

These cousins, if existent, are either (1) albinos, or (2) have some form of albinism that effected their eye color, or (3) have an abnormal genetic disorder. There's nothing normal about this condition.

a. Heterochromia ?

b. Waardenburg syndrome ?

c. Many other conditions ?

Also, have you ever noticed how elderly Black people slowly develop light pigmented eyes. Changes in genes cause this also.

West coast story, do me a favor. Get your GED, then start reading some medical journals written for lay people. It will broaden your horizen.

There will always be a need for the Voting Rights Act. Unca Clarence needs to sit his bitter ass down.

You want a nasty realization and kick to the stomach that your vote might not count? During the tenure of Ken Blackwell in Ohio (slave catcher for the GOP) His job was to excise 200,000 + voters off the roll. Mainly in the blue counties.

The rat bastard was good at his job and along with DIEBOLD's messed up machines-- gave the damned state and country to W.

Enter Jennifer Brunner his replacement-- a serious HFN who fought like nobodies business to keep these votes from being disappeared again.Obama won Ohio by 200,000 something votes.Our votes will never be safe--not without constant vigilance.

I have seen a few black people with blue eyes. They were not light skinned either. I don't think your theory is complete. There is always a percentage of groups which will have have traits more common to other groups. Such as about 2% of Africans will have red hair with sensitive skin and not be light colored.

On the flip side.... why do people want to eliminate Sec. 5? What harm does it do if it stayed in place forever? I have worked as an election judge and worked polls in some capacity most of my adult life (including in Texas). I do not see any hardship being placed with compliance. There are rules that must be followed. So, I don't get why those in Texas who were challenging this felt the need to challenge it.To me, it is yet another example of folks not understanding that in order to make space for full participation for all people, you need to do what needs to be done.No big deal. As for Christine Flowers.... She has a long history of defending homophobic laws, anti-immigrant laws (and she's a friggin immigration lawyer!) and refuses to see racism, calling it individual acts, not reflecting a systemic problem. And, as for the so-called New Black Panthers... the joke was that the election polling place they were "protecting" was in west philly. Most of the people voting there are black folks who live in the neighborhood, or college students from Drexel or Penn, or the west philly progressive whites that live in the neighborhood. People walking in and out of that voting place found them curious, amusing, but not threatening.

As regards to that article I must say; How can she start so right then turn out so wrong?

That Black Panther Thug myth plays into the Obama thugs myth. A few vandals were made into the Obama Posse during the campaign and of course every wingnut has to have their own story.

Another thing that gets me, white folks are quick to sue when it is perceived as reversed racism, but why didn't the intimidated white woman sue herself using the Voting Rights Act? I guess being white is more important than the vote.

As long as there is still a white majority from the old times of Jim Crow segregation generation -- non white voting rights will be endangered. When this generation, and the children bore to them, and grand kids generation die off then things can possibly be different. The first two generations definitely have to die off.

It's sad to that we're still saying "the first black Mayor of . . ." some unprecedented levels.

" Because the genetic admixture of Blacks in America, primarily as a result of slavery, allows us to have children that can be born with eyes the color of the sky to the color of soot."

I have an issue with this whole statement. All black people in American are not descendents from slaves or for that matter, descendents of a mixture of slave master sleeping with slaves.

and the fact that he had 2 (hadn't seen blanket) children that don't appear to have ANY trait of an african american person (considering as black as MJ once was), is RARE to say the least. someone should have curly hair. but just my opinion.

I really don't mean to hijack a post, but this shit is really funny!Check out the latest schtick from our resident troll/token/scientist/teacher,etc.

FlyNMy40s said...

Field Negro G said... Don't go to medical school (as you suggested you may try). SAVE YOUR MONEY. I'M REALLY NOT TRYING TO BE CRUEL, BUT YOU'D NEVER MAKE IT THROUGH MEDICAL SCHOOL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

As a former high school chemistry teacher and person loyal to my people, I'd never suggest a black person NOT further their education and for you to do that, makes you Chief House Nigga on THIS blog. And it's comments like these that many of you only seem to make toward AB and I, that make somany of you indirect pawns for racists. They don't have to say or do shit, you idiots are trying pitifully to destroy the spirit and thus, the soul of Black folks without the help of racists.

My suggestion for you and your croonies on this blog is that you start with community college and work your way up...... if you can.

Either way, don't YOU ever step to me again with things you obviously don't know shit about again, OK punkin'?

9:14 AM

FlyNMy40s said...

Wow said... "House nigga for DAM sure!"Look lady nobody believes in your fucking fantisies.You seem to be the only scientist in America that can sit on the internet all day getting into cyberspats with people.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Tell you what. Why don't you go through my posts and show us all how I'm able to "post all day long" which is not only NOT true but another one of those dumb arse statements my fans here like to perpetuate. You and a few other FN idiots HAVE to tell yourselves crap like that to convince yourselves that there's no way I could be a living, breathing, working Scientist. We call that being jealous and/or delusional in the medical and scientific world.

As for posting at 8:30 AM, I run things where I work, thanks to being blessed just last week with a promtion to Scientist Manager. I took the day off because "I got it like that", LOL!!

Now why don't you and all my other jealous fans go ask yourselves why I STAY cloaked in God's blessings, because let me tell you I am living proof that education, working hard, and doing the right by yourself, your family and your community, will ALWAYS and sometimes literally pay off eventually!!

Now I'd better go because I'm about to get my shout on up in here!!! God is GOOD!!!!!!!!

This troll is pathetic, she lies so much, even she believes herself.Tip: Get some help, you need it.

"Come to think of it, has a white plaintiff ever lost a discrimination case in the Supreme Court?"

Nope, never, and the spirit of Roger Taney remains alive and well. The 2004 election was the pivotal one for the court, since there were deaths and retirements following it. So Bush was able to continue the white supremacist tradition for a couple more decades, thanks in large part to Ken "Super Coon" Blackwell's efforts in Ohio.

One cousin is brown skinned, dark hair, blue eyes and the spitting image of his father. Both parents had brown eyes.

The other cousin is blond and blue-eyed, light complexion. Neither of her parents was blond or blue-eyed.

FNG, you are crazy as a loon. I've met a few black people over the years who had blue eyes. You need to get out more and stop talking about that which you know nothing of.

Hey, Granny. I'm still around but the trolls have me posting less. Amen about the Panthers. I use to run the free dental clinic in another city and the BPP was all about service to the community. I know nothing about any New Panthers. What have they done, anything?

As a scientist myself, Field Negro G disgusts me.I've blue eyes, and am a spotted American (look danish).At least THREE TIMES i've been told that I look mixed, by black folks.Yeah, so he is SO fucking full of shit.

Disgusting.

Problem is, he's right on some things. Skin color is mediated by multiple genes (there's a specific one that gives me freckles, and more than a few about exactly what skin tone I've got).

I never watch BET but I wanted to see how they would honor MJ, for the most part they did a good job. I quickly changed the channel when the BIG ASS CHAIN came out. BET needs to re-name itself HNC (House Negro CHannel) Damn. I am glad I switched back to catch Maxwell and Janet. I will now go back to never watching the channel.

As far Christine, the election 2000 should have told everyone we have a lone way to go on voting regulations and rights

I've got to leave one comment on the color and blue eyes issue. I'm from New Orleans, which has a history of not just jump the fence race mixing, but an actual defunct system of social class based on the Quadroon balls, institutionalized colorism. People of African descent who have Aryan blood as well can have blue eyes and live to a ripe old age. Both my grandmother and her brother could have passed for white, but did not. She had brown eyes and he had blue eyes. Blue eyes in mixed people of color are not a sign of disease, but a sign of the genetic crap shoot.

However, blue eyes are an unusual result with one obviously black parent and one white parent. Unusual, not impossible. Blue eyes would be less unusual if the one "black" parent has at least some white blood, and you'd have to look at that person's entire family, both paternal and maternal, not just the person him or herself. Blue eyes would be even more possible if the black parent was from a family that frequently married white or mixed and somebody in the wood pile had blue eyes, and the other parent was "pure" white or mostly white with blue eyes being common in his/her family. It would make it more likely that the alleles for blue eyes would line up with that couple.

Michael's children by Debbie whats-her-face appear to have no African genes at all, but that's a sight test. You need a DNA test to know for sure. Blanket, who came from the surrogate looks possibly mixed. One must wonder why Michael felt the need to find a surrogate.

If one of the children by DR looked "pure" white and the other looked mixed, that would seem to fall into the law of averages because this really is a mathematical probability puzzle. Recessive genes lining up once, maybe. Recessive genes lining up twice, harder to swallow, but possible.

Ultimately, it really doesn't matter. It's not our business. MJ accepted those children as his, and so, they are his. That anyone wants to debate this for so long reveals how neurotic this country is when it comes to race.

To Marketing Diva, I don't watch BET either, but I watched it last night. That was possibly my first BET Awards show in god knows how long. My review isn't as favorable as yours, but if you missed the O'Jays, you missed one of the better parts of the show. I started recording before I started watching so I could fast forward through stuff I didn't care for. :-)

One more point, now that they're showing close-ups of Michael's children and they're older, the daughter in particular looks mixed. But again, it's not our business. I hope the children are well-cared for financially, and that they can escape the media circus that surrounds their father. Katherine Jackson has been awarded guardianship.

Suggesting that EVERY Black person should be a doctor or attorney is narrow minded. In case (whoever wrote that ridiculous post earlier) you haven't noticed, most people in society are NOT of the aforementioned professions.

By the way, would you encourage a person of ANY race, who couldn't swim, to dive off of the high dive, into a twelve ft. deep swimming pool?

Foolish, foolish, foolish.

This person clearly doesn't have the grasp of science, or the train of thinking needed to make it through medical school, LIKE MANY WHITE PEOPLE. Society runs because of the diversity of professions people choose.

The fake scientist should run a lemonade stand, right beside George W Bush.

P.S. Fake scientist, how often have you put on a pair of gloves, and checked a smelly homeless person for Syphilis? It's not just about science, which you definitely have no grasp of, but character. Your childishness and ignorance suggest that you have none of the traits needed to spend 70 hours a week comforting sick people.

And to the "former chemistry teacher", reactions in a test tube rarely mimic real life pathological physiology.

So, let it be clear. NO PERSON OF ANY COLOR SHOULD ATTEMPT MEDICAL SCHOOL BECAUSE THEIR FAVORITE T.V. SHOW IS E.R.

@Field Negro G: "...Listen carefully...more carefully than you did in the remedial biology class that you bragged about. THE ONLY BLACK CHILDREN (AND I'VE SEEN PICTURES OF THEM) WHO HAVE BLUE EYES ARE CHILDREN WITH BIRTH DEFECTS."

I have no dog in this fight, and I agree with Vérité Parlant who said..."Ultimately, it really doesn't matter. It's not our business. MJ accepted those children as his, and so, they are his."

Do you find it ironic how the very same people who seek to CHANGE LAWS - such as the Crack Sentencing law because the THREAT HAS SUBSIDED and thus the laws need to reflect the realities of the day - are among the same people who desperately seek to keep the sanctions on these areas of the nation using details from 40 years ago?

Do you ever wonder why you (and your ideology) is so INEFFECTIVE in addressing Public Education and Crime Problems?

None of these lend themselves to PROTESTS and Feigned Outrage. Instead they require MANAGEMENT.

I strongly support Clarence Thomas' attempt to have the entire court evaluate the constitutionality of Section 5. He is seeking to have BLACK PEOPLE BE EQUAL UNDER THE LAW - you still want the ole "neck brace" and "soft tissue injury" trick to work on the sympathetic judge.

Let me clear this up for everyone who has never been to New Haven, CT. In New Haven, like many northern industrial cities -- the fire department has been seen as ripe with nepotism and back room deals to get some Italian fire captain's dimwit nephew on the boards. The New Haven Firebirds (Black Fireman's association) along with NAACP cried foul. More black got officer posts, and now a handful of white officers are screaming 'reverse discrimination'.

So if you think that just b/c Obama is POTUS that these racists are going down without a fight, think again.

Let me clear this up for everyone who has never been to New Haven, CT. In New Haven, like many northern industrial cities -- the fire department has been seen as ripe with nepotism and back room deals to get some Italian fire captain's dimwit nephew on the boards. The New Haven Firebirds (Black Fireman's association) along with NAACP cried foul. More black got officer posts, and now a handful of white officers are screaming 'reverse discrimination'.

So if you think that just b/c Obama is POTUS that these racists are going down without a fight, think again.

The nerve of those white and hispanic firefighters.Who cares if you took the same test has everyone else did? Who cares if you scored higher than everyone else did?Who cares if you were denied your right to promotion because of your race??

Field, here's a sad story that needs a LOT more attention, despite MJ's death taking all the oxygen out of the room:----------------- A Duke University official has been arrested and charged with offering a 5-year-old boy for sex.

Frank Lombard, the school's associate director of the Center for Health Policy, was arrested after an Internet sting, according to the FBI's Washington field office and the city's police department.

According to an affidavit by District of Columbia Police Detective Timothy Palchak, an unidentified informant facing charges in a separate child sex case led authorities to Lombard.

Authorities said that Lombard tried to persuade a person — who he did not know was a police officer — to travel to North Carolina to have sex with a child.

The detective's affidavit charges Lombard said in an online chat that he had sexually molested the boy. The court papers say Lombard also invited the undercover detective to North Carolina to have sex with the young boy and even suggested which hotel he should use.

Lombard was charged in federal court in Washington with attempting to induce someone to cross state lines to engage in sex with a child. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

"The nerve of those white and hispanic firefighters.Who cares if you took the same test has everyone else did? Who cares if you scored higher than everyone else did?Who cares if you were denied your right to promotion because of your race??

You're just a bunch of racist so you should get over it!!!"

How do you know they scored higher, did you grade the tests? Were you there? Or is it the racism talking?

A prime example of a RACIST response people...See, they're even racist when they're not trying to be.And the absolute reason why we can't stand whites.Stfu cracker.

Shabazz said... "How do you know they scored higher, did you grade the tests? Were you there? Or is it the racism talking?A prime example of a RACIST response people...See, they're even racist when they're not trying to be.And the absolute reason why we can't stand whites.Stfu cracker."

"Lombard was charged in federal court in Washington with attempting to induce someone to cross state lines to engage in sex with a child. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 20years in prison."

Far as I concerned, 20 years is not good enough for Lombard, they should give him life with no chance of parole for what he did to that child.

"Ultimately, it really doesn't matter. It's not our business. MJ accepted those children as his, and so, they are his. That anyone wants to debate this for so long reveals how neurotic this country is when it comes to race."

Yes, I agree. It is not our business. But Blacks are very shamebased and obsessed when it comes to color of eyes, skin color, hair, and even lips. Many Blacks measure themselves by 'white' standards. The more white, the more beautiful and more valuable we are. Haven't you folks noticed that? Or am I waaay off base?

Why are we talking about blue eyes as though it is soooo normal in the Black race? The fact is, it is not common. In some uncommon cases it looks great; in other cases it looks weird...like the eyes of an albino. Actually blue eyes looks weird in 'some' Whites too.

But 'some' Blacks like to pretend as though it is 'normal' in their family or to talk as though the Black community is crawling with blue eyes. You see, for some it helps to cover some of their shame of being Black. Anything Black, get back...let's not talk about the norm. In fact, let's talk about blue eyes as though it IS quite common!

FNG, I knew you were going to be attacked because Blacks 'are very neurotic when it comes to "blue eyes". You give a scientific genetic analysis that goes against the grain of Black 'blue-eyed theory'-and whamo! Even the so-called educated ones will come after you about that. Don't try to take away the 'commonality' of 'blue eyes' in our race, Please!

Yep. This country is neurotic when it comes to race, especially Blacks. That's why Blacks are the least unified of all races. We are easily picked apart by Whites. We're too stuck on color, hair and eyes. Everyone knows that.

Dear WCS, I am gay. Please do not use that phrase. I am also sick and tired of people referring to Cali as the "granola state", which means the state is full of 'fruits, flakes and nuts'. Yeah, I'm sick and tired of that. And none of you out-of-state homophobes had better not be laughing at me.

Yeah. I can hear you laughing all the way up there in Philly. Knock that shit off!

To Anonymous @ 10:12 p.m.--Just in case there's a misunderstanding, and since I can't tell if your comment is directed at me or at black people in general, I know exactly why we keep going in circles on blue eyes. I did not say blue eyes are common in people of color or black people. I said they're unusual, to put it bluntly, rare.

However, I did object to misinformation that blue eyes are only possible in black people, meaning those identified as of African descent, as the result of disease. In addition, I made sure to identify the people of color of whom I spoke as those having white blood. It is the projection of a reader to assume that any writer is either proud of white blood or ashamed of it unless the writer says so. Many people are simply indifferent, feeling a focus on bloodline other than for purposes of understanding one's personal heritage, is unproductive, and a global focus on bloodline is frequently destructive, which was Hitler's hangup. Nevertheless, such discussions of ethnicity are necessary sometimes to put racism in perspective.

In my father's family, no one gets happy over light skin or light eyes or that his mother or uncle could pass for white. They take pride that they chose not to pass. In Louisiana, a state that once enforced the one-drop law, had black codes forbidding women of color from wearing "finery and plumes" on the streets because it was believed such extravagance was the sure sign of a white male lover, and enforced laws such as no marriage between blacks and whites, not every black family is enamored of light skin and blue or green eyes popping up among its members. Some see it as nothing more than a reminder of a rape or somebody's mother being a paid mistress. Depending on lineage, light skin and light eyes may even be evidence of the traitorous deeds of a free person of color in New Orleans, some of whom owned slaves themselves.

On the other hand there were families so desperate to be light and stay light in order to retain social status in the Creole social clubs that they resorted to inner marrying. Take that however you like, but history's history. It's a complex and frequently painful subject.

Some of that history was discussed in comments on a post about Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at this link. One sister who identifies herself as light-skinned from a family that runs the gamut in color was offended at how dark-skinned blacks look down their noses at light-skinned blacks, in particular the phrase "light, bright, and damned-near white." True, it happens sometimes that some black people go out of their way to make a person of mixed race feel unwelcomed, but that reaction is almost as much an anomaly as black people having blue eyes. Frequently, we as a people are so afflicted in our self-hate that members of the race are more often not looking down the nose at lighter skin and blue eyes as much as they are looking on in lust. I am saddened that 40 years after "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud," we remain as dysfunctional as ever on this subject.

Anon at 10:12, I wish you had a handle. It's easier to talk with some with a name of a sort, rather than to an anon. There's an ocean of anons in the blogosphere.

I like you, and I think you have a good heart, so I'm going to talk softly.

I usually do, but many have taken my words as an assault, when that was not my intention.

"But Blacks are very shamebased and obsessed when it comes to color of eyes, skin color, hair, and even lips."

Not as many as you might think. Once your statement would have carried more weight, more credence, than it does today.

We went though our "black is beautiful" phase, with James Brown leading the chorus, and directing the choir.

Guess what: black is still beautiful, exotic, sexy, and intelligent--whether you're speaking of a black woman, or a black man.

"Many Blacks measure themselves by 'white' standards. The more white, the more beautiful and more valuable we are. Haven't you folks noticed that? Or am I waaay off base?"

Sure some of our black brothers and sisters are color obsessed, but that, too, is not worthy of condemnation.

And I don't believe that the numbers are "many," as you've stated.

Perhaps a more empathetic response would be in order, given our years of living in a "color aroused" society, where most things black were deemed ugly, evil, and inferior.

And I haven't "noticed that," as much as I have observed just the opposite.

"FNG, I knew you were going to be attacked because Blacks 'are very neurotic when it comes to "blue eyes". You give a scientific genetic analysis that goes against the grain of Black 'blue-eyed theory'-and whamo!"

FNG so-called "scientific genetic analysis" was incomplete. That's about the nicest way I can state it.

He called at least one commenter a liar, although FNG erred in part.

His tone was condescending, and pompous. It was not that he attempted to educate us, but that he did it with disdain, and with a superiority that was bound to cause rancor in some.

Field Negro G said... "Well, to add insult to the comments made by the phony "scientist", the multi-factorial nature of genetics is what gives rise to GREEN eyes in some interracial children, but NEVER blue eyes."

Field Negro G misspoke. Blue eyes are rare among "interracial children," to be sure, but not impossible, as he states.

There are other factors that must be considered--one being whether the non-white person in the interracial relationship has a Caucasian relative or relatives in his/her background.

Blue eyes are also rare among non-interracial black children, but not impossible. If there are Caucasian relatives on both sides--the father's side, as well as the mother's side--it is still possible. Yet...

"The situation is actually even more complicated making it even harder to get blue eyes. There are at least two and probably more eye color genes. All your copies have to be the blue kind to get blue eyes. This makes blue eyes rarer still." Dr. Barry Starr

BD, I am Anon 10:12p. Sorry I am getting back so late. I was busy checking the color of my eyes. LOL. I must say that you are a great cheerleader for Blacks and I appreciate it. And you don't have to be overly gentle or soft. I usually can intuit when people have good or bad intentions.

If, overall, you are saying that Blacks are 'generally' more unified than ever, then we live in two different worlds, even on this blog. For instance, where were you on the past two threads? The negativity among Blacks was the worst that I have seen. There were plenty of folks you could have given a talk to.

Bottom line, it was a trail of negative comments against Blacks who had spent a life time helping our race. One would think a spirit of gratitude and compassion and love would have been in order, considering it was MJ's death. It wasn't. Why?

Anyway, I do think 'many' Blacks are shame based. IMO, Blacks can't come out of 249 years of slavery, plus another 100 years of Jim Crow, plus be the target of lynching and police brutality, continue black on black crime, continue to murder kids in our streets, plus be jammed like sardines in the inner city-- and expect our race to be emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually healthy. Blacks have so much shame that they won’t go for therapy or even talk about help for depression or anxiety. Instead, Blacks go to the local preacher for help who is probably sicker than we are. Therefore, we have a few things that are tearing us down, and tearing us apart from 'without' but more so ‘within’. And that’s without the help of Whites. Obsession with the color of eyes, skin, lips and texture of hair, are the tip of the iceberg.

BD, maybe you feel that Blacks are coming together more than ever, but I can only say, “it just doesn’t compute to me”. What happened these past few days over MJ’s death in the Black community confirmed that for me. Take a look at the comments on the posts on this blog. I won't deny the truth because the spirit of my life depends on the truth. The truth is, Blacks are divided today more than ever. Look around you.

BD, with all due respect, I think you are minimizing the problems in the Black race. A race that cares little about the murdering of our children in the streets; that cannot talk to each other respectfully; that cannot reason or compromise with each other; that is full of grandiose pride and anger; that will rip each other off; that see the baby boomers as a 'CERTAIN GENERATION' that is a joke---then not only are we not together, we don't like each other much. There seems to be a generational rift in the race. No appreciation or honor for those who sacrificed themselves for future generations really sucks. That is dishonoring those who helped you.

More than anything else, Blacks need to love and respect one another because we are a race that has been ‘shamed’, disrespected, unwanted and unloved. Until we realize that truth and start to respect and love one another, we will remain mired in the denial of shame, grandiose pride, fear, anger, hate, and ignorance. And that will ALWAYS keep us divided. The other races, especially racist Whites, are counting on us to stay weak and divided. At the rate we are going, we won’t fail them.

Hathor, that page is deep, and alot of those images shook me up inside. I think that's one page every black person should have in their bookmarks, such as I have just added it to mine. Keep that page as a reminder of all the drudgery and pain we had to (and still do) endure. The fight is never over. Not by a long shot.

What is it about black people having blue eyes that makes some of you so defensive? A heck of a lot more time has been spent on skin color on this very blog than eye color and that doesn't seem to bother y'all one bit. I'd rather learn something about biology than speculate about whether MJ's kids are really his because they look all white, no, are they really? well I thought one looked mixed; no, I heard it on good authority that the children are all the spawn of space aliens, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...

Why doesn't that stupidity bother you?

And for the record, the issue was not about eye color. It was about someone posting bogus information about biology in order to score a political point that was straight out of the Nation of Islam handbook.

To anon's point. The biggest problem facing black people is that we are dishonest and in denial about where we are as a people. There's that step in the 12-Step program about taking a fearless self inventory.

That's what we need to do. We are terrified of self criticism and have this weird idea that we shouldn't air our dirty laundry in public. There are over 30 million black people in this country. Exactly where should all of us show up to have a "private" discussion about our community? The state of Wyoming? Is there a Marriot conference room big enough for everyone?

We need to be able to say out loud that a disproportionate number of black youth get caught up in crime, and not just poor youth, and what are we going to do about it? When are black people going to lay down standards about what is tolerable in our community and what is not. We need to acknowledge that we do not aspire to acadmic excellence like we once did.

And for god's sake, we need to stop making white people our benchmark for our behavior. I don't care what white kids do, all I know is that our kids are dropping out of school at an alarming rate and the number of births to single black women is not good. We are even in denial about this.

We want to lay everything at the feet of racism and poverty but middle class kids are not doing so hot either. We have problems and we don't solve them by denying they exist or not taking ownership of them.

Because if we acknowledge that the problems belong to us, then we have to get up OFF our lazy fat butts and do something.

On a non-scientific note, I've noticed than a lot of non-Black people seem "interested" in finding solutions to "Black" problems.

Guess what? There are plenty of white men who like to "doggy style" little boys. White boys are blowing up trailers all across the country in attempts to make methamphetamine. Herpes is prevalent within the poor white community in the south ; poor whites have come to the point of regarding the contraction of HERPES as an "inconvenience."

So, guess what white America? You have a lot of cleaning to do in your own back yard. We always have, and always will, be the catalysts for problem solving in our community.

Our votes will not be safe so long as corporations own proprietary software that counts them; so long as people like Jeb Bush and Katharine Harris and Blackwell hold office unprosecuted; so long as we do not have a paper trail; so long as poor and minority precincts run unreliable, out-dated, faulty, and few voting machines, while wealthy white precincts have all. If vote-rigging no longer includes outright, direct intimidation and lynching of minority citizens, it is nevertheless no less real for its increasing sophistication.

@V.Parlant"I am saddened that 40 years after "Say it Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud," we remain as dysfunctional as ever on this subject."

I am Anon10:12. Thank you for your comment. You clarified where you were coming from, and I am grateful for it....many thanks. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you have said, especially your last paragraph. That said it all for me. I too am very saddened that after 40 years the Black race still remains dysfunctional.

It's depressing to me. Many people put their lives on the line during those days, including old Jessie Jackson himself, and later Al Sharpton. Of course, as one commenter on a thread implied, 'Jessie and Al Sharpton are the jokes of a CERTAIN GENERATION.' It was a degrading put-down not only aboout them, but to baby boomers in general. But it informed me. It told me something about the attitude of the Blacks following the baby boomers. We are in a fix.

I really don't know where our race is headed anymore. Appreciation for one another, respect and honor, and our history that has gotten Blacks to this point appear to be irrelevant. Even Tavis Smiley baffles me. I see him as an egomaniac obsessed with hurting Obama. I don’t know, maybe it’s always been that way.

The link you provided indicated that Blacks are unrealistically 'nitpicky' about each other. Many Blacks seem to have trouble experiencing appropriate levels of self-esteem. They have trouble valuing themselves--they are either overvaluing or undervaluing themselves. Of course, we have a long history of being shamed as a race. Hence, it's not the blue-eyed gene or the biology of it that is the problem, it's how Blacks value themselves--that is the problem. It’s an unhealthy and sorry state of mind to be in....and a lousy way to live one's life.

BTW, as I remember it, initially FNG took Fly's condescending rationale and used it to slam Fly who clearly deserved it, imho. I could be wrong, but I think that was his purpose. Then it took a neurotic turn as others showed up and interrupted FNG's ass-whipping of Fly. However, I have been Black long enough to know that whenever 'blue eyes' are mentioned, folks will show up to prove they have seen or have relatives with blue eyes. It's the same old neurotic rerun of shame that has been going on in the race for centuries.

Imo, FNG’s error, or ‘incomplete’ analysis had nothing to do with the biology of it--It was much deeper than that.

Co-sign 110% anon 3:39pmIt's the same reason why Blacks are always claiming to have "Indian" in them; it's irritating and sad at the same time. We always try to latch onto another group, and they stand outside the circles laughing at us. IMO, we have the most beautiful diverse group to ever walk the planet and we don't even acknowledge it ourselves.

Shabazz-"...We always try to latch onto another group, and they stand outside the circles laughing at us. IMO, we have the most beautiful diverse group to ever walk the planet and we don't even acknowledge it ourselves."

Thanks Shabazz, you have a way of putting it all in a nutshell. it's good to know that I am not alone in what I am seeing.

I said what I said, because I want science not pseudo science. There are too many myths that abide in the black community. There is no reason to use an incomplete premise to make a point.

I still don't believe MJ could scientifically bleach his skin to that degree of lightness, but I don't have the energy or resources, like ProQuest Research Library, to research it. If someone had said he had skin grafts from a white donor, I might be more inclined to believe that.

Just using this as an example. Don't really care about MJ's color, but there are more serious myths which greatly effect out community.

II"Therefore, we have a few things that are tearing us down, and tearing us apart from 'without' but more so ‘within’. And that’s without the help of Whites. Obsession with the color of eyes, skin, lips and texture of hair, are the tip of the iceberg."

I must admit: I do have an "obsession with the color of eyes, skin, lips and texture of hair...."

And our hair texture: kinky is my favorite. What versatility. We can wear it straight, or natural, or curly.

How blessed we are that God has bestowed upon this versatility.

"Until we realize that truth and start to respect and love one another, we will remain mired in the denial of shame, grandiose pride, fear, anger, hate, and ignorance. And that will ALWAYS keep us divided. The other races, especially racist Whites, are counting on us to stay weak and divided. At the rate we are going, we won’t fail them."

My friend, I don't feel "divided."I have no "shame," no "grandiose pride," "fear," "anger," or "hate."

Who would I direct these things toward? Whites? Blacks?

I hold no animus, no resentment toward anyone.

Should I?

I think not. I love me more than that.

"BD, with all due respect, I think you are minimizing the problems in the Black race."

No, I don't think so. You see I'm a historical witness to what you call "black problems."

What you call "Black-race problems" are human problems. And if this "black race" resides within the United States, then it becomes an "American problem."

What you're seeing as black problems are America's problems, and they won't be addressed properly until we see them that way.

As long as we're led to believe that it's "our problem," that we're the ones who created the problem, and that we created it in a social vacuum, then we're always going to address it as though we're the only ones who can fix it.

That won't happen!

Until everyone is onboard--white as well as black--I'm afraid that America's problem will persist.

"I must say that you are a great cheerleader for Blacks and I appreciate it."

@BD. I am amazed that you have not been impacted by the discriminating degradations of racism. Either you are in profound denial or you are just an exceptional human being.

Either way, I think we are talking past each other and not making much headway. Our realities seem to be 'worlds' apart. You might not feel divided, but the Black race IS divided. That was my point. It wasn't about just you.

In America, many Blacks are physically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually impacted by: PSTD, police brutality, unfair penal justice system that fills our prisons with innocent people like Eric Frimpong, black-on-black crime, the killing of our children in the streets, poor education, gangs, poor dieting, and profound ignorance due to academic disidentification.

Those daily 'stressors' cause internalized dysfunctions such as self-hatred, shame, feeling unwanted and fear of being unloved. I have no illusions that this is the reality and world for many Blacks. It leaves them struggling with painful feelings that causes neuroses and dysfunctional behaviors.

"My friend, I don't feel "divided."I have no "shame," no "grandiose pride," "fear," "anger," or "hate."

Who would I direct these things toward? Whites? Blacks?"

Those 'things' of shame, grandiosity, pride, fear, and hate are directed mainly at other Blacks.

BD-Racism has been an outrageous violation of the human dignity of its victims while it simultaneously corrupts it perpetrators. Eric Frimpong is a recent example of what racism does to its victims and how it corrupts its perpetrators.

Even though you have managed to remain untouched from the degradations of racism, many haven't.

You are "the" example of what a human being can become. Of course, I am assuming that you are who you claim to be? Anyone else I would diagnose as a grandiose narcissist in profound denial.

It's good to know there is someone on the planet like yourself. From your emotional perfections, I would say that you are an Avatar in disguise who has come to earth to help flawed human beings become better human beings. Thank you.

"Yes, I am an Avatar, Vishnu to be exact, but you can be him, too. But, I'm not in "disguise." I'm not always seen, I'd say, but I'm highly visible."

No, I am a long way from being Vishnu. I have a number of lifetimes before I reach realization. Besides, I am on the Buddhist Path, and in Buddhism, we don't claim to be Buddha. We just remain human with all of our flaws and shortcomings but strive to eradicate them moment by moment.

I did practice Vedanta and Kriya Yoga for many years. I still read the Gita from time to time for support.

Why are you Vishnu and not Shiva, Kali or Krishna? And why are you trying to teach Black folks who know very little and could care less about the law of karma, Gurus or Eastern philosophy/Spirituality?

"I came to earth to help, but not"flawed human beings become better human beings," but to remind them of who they truly are, and to balance the darkness with the Light."

In our Judeo-Christian secular country you may find that many folks will be pretty skeptical of you and your claim. Americans tend to see themselves as sinful creatures according to the Good Book.

I assume that you are aware that we are in the Kali Yuga era? Trying to remind Blacks or any American--attached very much to their ego--who they really are won't cut it. Americans have stubborn closed minds. Knowledge of Yama, Niyama, or virtue is virtually non-existent. Fragile and mean-spirited egos rule the day in America.

Even India is more corrupt than ever. The younger generations are turning away from their foundational spirituality and religion to capitalism and secularism. Hence, they are abandoning the wisdom of the Vedas, Vedanta, Puranas, Gita, Mahabharata, Vedanta, Astanga Yoga, etc.

Vivekananda and Ramakrishna warned about that. So did the Buddha. Nevertheless, I wish you much success...the black race could use a lot of spiritual help. Good luck.

@Anon, 7:32 PM: "Why are you Vishnu and not Shiva, Kali or Krishna? And why are you trying to teach Black folks who know very little and could care less about the law of karma, Gurus or Eastern philosophy/Spirituality?"

I'm not a practicing Buddhist, or a Hindu, but the honor of Vishnu was thrust upon me some years ago, as well as the power to fulfill my role.

More than attempting to "teach," I see one of my roles as that of re-minder--to help others re-member.

We already know All There Is To Know, (blacks as well as whites, indeed the whole human family) we just need to be re-minded that we do.

"As preserver and restorer, Vishnu is a very popular deity with Hindu worshippers. The root of his name, vish, means ‘to pervade’, and he is regarded as the all-pervading presence, whose power has been manifested to the world in a variety of forms called avataras, or ‘descents’, in which a part of his divine essence was incarnated in a human or supernatural form. An avatar has appeared whenever there was urgent need to correct some great evil influence in the world. ‘When order, justice, and mortals are endangered’, remarked Vishnu, ‘I come down to earth.’

My task is to preserve and restore. It is one of several missions I've accepted during this incarnation.

Another is sentinel.

As "preserver and restorer," I work to keep the darkness from overwhelming our world. It is a daunting task, given that the world, at this time in her evolution, is seeing a resurgence of the darkness.

Darkness is more powerful than ever. But we're making progress. I say we, because there're others.

This does not make the "darkness" real. It's a misuse of the am/am not, is/is not energy that emanates from us.

The mission of LightWorkers is the same as that of Vishnu--to pervade the planet with Light, thus restoring balance, and preserving humankind's ability to seek and find the Light, if, and when, so inclined.

I know that what I'm saying here is hard to believe. And if I were in your place, it would be met with a big dose of skepticism.

"I assume that you are aware that we are in the Kali Yuga era?"

And that we are makes my role, and the role of others like me, more paramount than ever.

Hence, my invitation: become a LightWorker. It appears that you have a love of humanity that serves as a prerequisite for this kind of holy work.

"Nevertheless, I wish you much success...the black race could use a lot of spiritual help. Good luck."

Not just blacks, the whole human race could use, but don't exactly need, "spiritual help."

You see: the outcome is assured. It can be achieved through suffering, or through our willingness to evolve into that which we are.

We're at a crossroad. My efforts are designed to eliminate the unnecessary suffering, and to re-mind humans, so that they may re-member, and know again that which they are: One.

There's only One of us here....

"Americans tend to see themselves as sinful creatures according to the Good Book."

Some, indeed. But this does not make it so. Illusions abound. But when we know that the illusions are illusions, we can, then, begin to use them as they were intended: to experience fullest glory

"No, I am a long way from being Vishnu. I have a number of lifetimes before I reach realization. Besides, I am on the Buddhist Path, and in Buddhism, we don't claim to be Buddha. We just remain human with all of our flaws and shortcomings but strive to eradicate them moment by moment."

Any path that you choose to enlightenment will get you there in time, over time, eventually, and inevitably.

And if that's the path you've chosen, so be it. I wish you Godspeed....

But for my part, I'm impatient. I remember Moses' encounter with I Am That I Am, and I'm reminded that "I Am" is who "I Am" also.

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